Support for pictures, cards, etc.



April 1, 1930.

M. M. GILLETTE SUPPORT FOR PICTURES, CARDS, ETC

Filed 001;. 25 192'? INVENTOR,

TTORNEY Patented Apr. 1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAUDE M.GILLETTE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SUPPORT FOR PICTURES, CARDS, ETC.

Application filed October 25, 1927. Serial No. 228,524.

My invention relates to simple and inexpensive devices for supportingcards, pictures and'the like on faces. 1 The general 0 walls or otherupright surbject is toprovide devices of this character which areextremely simple and may therefore strong and durable, are easilyinserted in a v be cheaply produced, are

porting device ment, as here shown, is preferably formed in arepresentative embodifrom a single small sheet of substantially stifi,bendable metal, cut and bent to provide a prong and a card-holdingportion in generally transverse relation to the prong, said card-holdingportion being arranged either to engage only the end and bottom edges ofthe card at the corner thereof, and the outer card face, or toadditionally engage the inner faceof the card; and ineither case servingby the cooperative action of two of the devices at opposite lowercorners of the card to retain the same securely but removably in uprightposition, close to or in contact with the wall surface.

Thecharacteristics and advantages of-the invention are furthersufficiently explained in connection with the following detaildescription of th e accompanying drawings,

which illustrate certain representative embodiments. After considerlngthese examples, skilled persons will understand that many variations maybe made without departing from the principles involved, and Icontemplate the employment of any structures that are properly withinthe scope of the appended cl aims.

Fig. 1 is a perspectlve view ofdevices embodying the invention 1n oneform, 1n operative position.

Fig. 2 is a le ft side view at 22, 1

the wall'or analagous supporting body being shown in section. I

Fig. 3 is a rear perspective of one of th supporting devices of Figs. 1and 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank from which the supporting device ofFig. 3 is produced.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form. I

Fig. 6 is'a top plan view of one of the devices in operative position. Ii i.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the blank from which the device of Fig. 5 isproduced.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another modification. v

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the blank from which the'device of Fig. 8 isproduced.

Referring first to Fig. 4:, I produce from sheet metal of moderatethickness and of substantial stifiness,and of proper composition andtemper to permit the necessary pressing or bending operations, a blank Bincluding generally rectangular portions or wings 1 and 2, and a-prongportion 3 having a bevelled or tapered point 4. Desirably the upperportions of the wings are separated by a notch formation producing onwing 2,a margin 5 aligned with the prong, and on wing 1, a diagonalmargin'fi; although in. some cases the s'eparationof these wing portionsmay consist of a simple slit aligned with the prong, as later describedwith reference to Figs. 8 and 9. Y The blank is to bebent along thedotted lines, of whicha indicatesfflange portions 7 and 8 to cooperatewith the card edges, and 7) indicates central bending of the prong,after which the prong is twisted into ta ering, sharp-pointed form.

ig. .3 shows the completed support or holder after performance of thestated operations'. The flange members 7 and 8 are locatstantially thesame plane but in overlapping relatlon, at right angles to the flanges 7and 8. Edge 6 extends from the corner of the face.

corners of a picture or card C inserted in the sockets provided by theholders, the lower ed es of the card restin in the one case on flange 7and in the other case on flange 8 while the vertical edges or the cardare engaged by the other respective flanges, which prevent lateralmovement of the card. The outer face of thecard is engaged by the wings1 and 2 which con act with sin ficient card areas to hold the samefirmly in upright position, flat against the wall or other supportingsur- It is now apparent that the described mode of construction obviatesany necessity for making the device in rights and lofts, and that thesame device may be used for either corner of the card by merely turningit to proper position. The diagonal edges 6 in each instance aredirected substantially toward the'center of the card and-present anattractive appearance analagous to the mitre joints of picture framesand the like.

It will be evident that the holders may be used to support a greatvariety of articles including practically any heavy cards, or picturesmounted on cards or cardboard frames,

etc. e V

7 Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show a modification in which the blank B of Fig. 7comprises in addition to the parts of the blank .13, wing formations and11, the inward ends of which are separated from the prong 3 by slits 12,and the longitudinal inward edges are defined by the dotted lines 0.When this blank is bent'and otherwise operated upon as previouslyexplained, all of its parts as shown in F igs; 5 and 6 aresubstantiallyas in the previous example, and the wing formations 10. and11 are located to engage inner faces of the card corner; or in briefthe. device provides a-four-sided socket engaging the bottom and endedges of the card as well as itsinner and outer faces at the corners;and

when inuseyas sufficiently shown inFig. 6,

firmly and stifliy supports the card or picture in vertical position,but spaced slightly from the wall surface. In either example it will benoted that the cards may be read ily' inserted and removed from theirholders without detaching the latter from the wall.

Figs. 8 and 9 show another modification in which the blank B of Fig. 9is generally similar to that of Fig. 7 except that it is of more nearlysquare outline, and the angular edge 6 of Figs. l and 7 is dispensedwith, the

separation of wing portions 1 and 2 consisting merely of a slit alignedwith the prong 3. This blank is bent up substantially as in the previousexample, producing as shown in Fig. 8 a holder or socket ofsubstantially square face outline. 1

VVhile these devices are conveniently and economically produced fromsheet metal, other materials may be used in some cases and in thebroader aspects 'ofthe invention it is not limited as to the particularmaterial employed, and in fact many other variations may be made withoutdeparting from the principles disclosed. 7

It will be observed that in the use of my invention there is no need forany positive mechanical connection between the holder and the picture orsimilar article and therefore no necessity forin any way m'arrin'g thepicture'or card, as is the case when thumb-tacks,

push-pins or other pointed devices are inserted through the cardcorners.

I claim: 7 i

1. A support or holder of the class described comprising a socketportion including card-edge engaging members extending at right anglesto each other,,card face engaging members extending perpendicularly tothe edge members and parallel to each other, said card face engagingmembers overlapping one another and a pointed prong ex tending from theintersection of said edge engaging portions and at a right, angle to thecard-face engaging members.

I 2. A support or "holder-of the class (lo-- scribed comprising a socketportion including card-edge engaging members extending right angles toeach other, card'face engaging members extending perpendicularly to theedge members and parallel to each other,

said car l face engaging members overlapping one another and a twistedand tapered prong extending from the intersection of said edge enga ingportions and at a rightangle'to the cardface engaging members.

3. A blank for the production of a support or holder" of'the classdescribed, consisting of bendable'sheet material and comprising wingportions, and a prong extendingat a right angle from the intersection ofthe wing portions, the adjacent ends of the wing portions beingseparated substantially in line with the prong, and the inward edgeof'one of the wing portions being cut diagonally.

4 A blank for the production of a support or holder of the classdescribed, consisting of bendable sheet material and comprising wingportions, and a prong extending a right angle "from the intersection ofthe wing portions, the adjacent ends of the wing portions beingseparated substantially in line with the prong, and additional wingportions

